Son of a Kiosk!
Posted by Christiane Lauterbach | February 20th, 2010 | Filed under Carts
Where are your wheels, dude?
The city of Atlanta has turned its “on-street vending program” to General Growth Properties Inc, a Chicago-based mall operator, which now oversees the new vendor huts (a.k.a., kiosks) selling junk downtown and the two garish hot dog carts some have described as “top-down, anesthetized, sleek simulacra of the food truck experience.” Notice the dropped panels hiding the wheels.
After an initial hot dog, we can only concur that the experience is mediocre at best, down to the bright-yellow eggy buns and the all-natural but not especially flavorful beef sausages, and that we see Streatery as a bit of a Trojan horse.
Our friend Alfredo Aponte has a more nuanced opinion. “Yes, very franchise-esque,” he wrote, “yet can’t deny it is the first food kiosk so far. Hopefully it will spur other people to ask how they can set up their own, or why can’t they set up their own. Hopefully, it will invite the argument that these kiosks are not the solution to allowing street carts/trucks.”
Carne Asada Is Not a Crime
Posted by Christiane Lauterbach | February 15th, 2010 | Filed under Carts
Read about the trials and tribulations of New York vendors who fall prey to what is called “vendrification” –what happens when neighborhoods first welcome, then try to get rid of their colorful street food scene. This guide clarifies the most commonly violated rules and ways to a better vendor world.
Best Idea for a Rehearsal Dinner
Posted by Christiane Lauterbach | February 11th, 2010 | Filed under Carts
Taqueria del Sol’s taco truck isn’t dead; it’s just dormant. It and Chef David Walbert (pictured above) roll out for special events. If only the City of Atlanta would have it, you could have it, too, on a street near you.
Coalition of the Willing
Posted by Christiane Lauterbach | February 10th, 2010 | Filed under Carts
At a recent meeting of prospective food vendors held in the cozy upstairs room at Danneman’s coffee house (466 Edgewood Ave., 404-380-1393, www.dannemans.com), the group agreed on a name–Atlanta Street Food Coalition–and a mission to “bring the wondrously delectable world of food trucks to our fair city.” Plans to organize a march on the capitol after a street cart event on March 26 at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market (209 Edgewood Ave. SE, http://www.sweetauburncurbmarket.com/) are underway, and a new voice, that of Thomas Lee from Hankook Taqueria (1341 Collier Rd. 404-352-8881) who’d like to go mobile with Kogi-style Korean bbq tacos, was heard, giving everyone one more reason to hope.
Encouraging Words
Posted by Christiane Lauterbach | February 10th, 2010 | Filed under Carts
In a recent feature about his wishes for the decade ahead, Bill Addison, dining editor and food critic for Atlanta magazine, embraced the cause with the following paragraph: “Consensus is that City Hall creates red tape for food trucks, discouraging their existence. But wouldn’t you love to walk outside your office, step up to a parked van, and grab a pork belly taco for lunch? Mobile kitchens have gone gourmet in other cities. Atlanta should address the legal constraints around food trucks so that our chefs can also take to the streets.”
